Outside Parlay Liaison
"You sure you're not cold?" Link asks whilst he holds her thick coat; which is now completely drenched
"It hit me hard when I was getting ready to go out with you but maybe it wasn't the temperature." Velvet stops and turns to face Link, "I was-! No, I still am nervous about this."
"What is there to be nervous about?"
"What isn't there?" Velvet mumbles, "I can't wrap my head around Coco and Yatsuhashi being defeated, now I'm here with you trying to impress or at least not embarrass myself."
"Relax, the pressure is solely on me." Link smirks, "If I return you back with anything less than a smile on your face, Coco will kill me."
"She would never do such a thing." Velvet shakes her head, "Not in her current state at least."
"What happened to her?" Link walks besides her as they continue pushing through the heavy rain, "She looked like me when I see Ray as a ghost."
"W-what!?" Velvet turns to her date with a look of concern
"Forget I said that."
"Um... Alright, I'll try. Look, I don't know what to believe. Coco swears Yatsuhashi was right behind her in the forest as if he had dispatched of Mercury but..."
"That did not happen at all." Link mumbles, "Mercury took care of Yatsuhashi in the geyser fields."
"Exactly." Velvet shuts her eyes and rubs her temples, "Stress hallucinations is the route Coco is going for but what if it's something deeper?"
(The rodent catches on quickly.)
(Be quiet.) Link frowns and isolates himself from the voice in his head
"Like what?" He adds
"I'm not sure really. It's just... the thought of someone like Coco being affected like that mid-fight is unreal."
"Maybe-!" Link stops and sighs as he forces out a different answer, "It can happen to anyone Velvet, even the best Beacon has to offer."
"I suppose you're right." She puts her head down and continues walking
"Don't worry Velvet, when I get past this next round if I draw either Mercury or Emerald in the one on one round, I'll avenge Coco and Yatsuhashi." Link catches up to her and nudges the faunus' shoulder
"You don't have to do for me." She looks up and smiles at her date
"It would be my pleasure. Besides, if it gets that smile on your face more often, I NEED to do it."
"No, no, no." Velvet grabs his hand and leans her head on his shoulder, "You don't have to fight anyone for me. Although, ever since you took on Cardin and his team I couldn't stop thinking about you and how you helped me despite not knowing who I was."
"Someone had to eventually, I just beat Coco to the punch." Link looks around and sees the buzzing lights slowly dimming down as the celebrations and parties come to a conclusion.
"There's not much else to do right? Shame." Velvet mumbles as they turn a corner and see their 'ride' in the distance
"Go." Link nudges her towards the ship, "I need to pay someone a visit real quick."
"Really? Can I come with you?"
"N-no!" Link walks ahead of her coming to a halt, "You shouldn't, go back to your dorm and tell Coco all about the time we spent together."
"W-wait!" Velvet grabs Link's hand and pulls hard, "What's wrong? We had a nice time at the restaurant, a peaceful walk in the rain but now your mood just turned upside down."
"It's a bar Velvet, I'm going to a bar." Link puts his head down and shakes his head, "I helped the owner fight off crooks some time back and I have not seen him in a while."
"Oh." Velvet ponders her choices and tugs on Link's hand, "I will ask again, can I come with you?"
"Really?" Link looks at her like she is crazy, "It won't take long, he told me he was re-branding his bar with a new name and logo, I want to see how he's doing."
"Sure. Besides, how will Coco react when I tell her you ditched me to go to a bar?"
"You wouldn't." Link narrows his eyes.
"Is that meant to be a challenge?" Velvet lets go of his hand and crosses her arms, showing off a devious look, something quite rare from someone like her.
"Fine, come on." Link takes a right instead of a left as both he and Velvet walk further away from the ship
After an extensive walk throughout the city of Vale, where it goes from glamorous buildings to rough and damaged exteriors.
"Why would he open a bar here?" Velvet keeps looking behind her as goosebumps creep up her spine
"He said and I quote, 'cater to the degenerates' whatever that means." Link shakes his head
"Poor area of Vale, he's praying off those who are down and need to down their sorrows in alcohol." Velvet frowns
"Maybe that's why I come here then." Link shrugs as they approach the entrance of the bar
"Wait why would you come-!"
"Well would you look at this." The voice of a loud man interrupts Velvet as he sizes up both of them, "It's the brats in the tournament."
"What?" A head pokes out of the building, "Ooooooh, look at this; I didn't think I'd see you again." The second man exits the bar and shoves aside the loud man sizing up Link and Velvet, "Good to see you my friend." He offers his hand to Link
"You're in a better mood." Link raises his eyebrows and reluctantly shakes his hand, "Is the business booming now?"
"Find a better word for it, life has been great. After you helped me fight off those scumbags, it tumbled a bit. People thought this place getting raided was going to be a constant thing but you scared them off pretty good." He finally spots Velvet right beside him, "You brought your girlfriend, how unexpected."
"She's not-!"
"It was a surprise to me as well." Velvet nods, remembering their earlier talk of it not being awkward being labeled a couple, "He took me to a nice restaurant first."
"And now he brought you here? Bad way to end." He laughs and extends his hand to Velvet, "Shane."
"Velvet." She gracefully shakes his hand
"So what brings you here?" Shane stares at Link
"That." Link points at the sign above the small building
"P-prybar?" Velvet scratches her head
"He was never a creative one." Link shakes his head
"Shut up, my cousin runs a joint called Crow Bar, so why not spoof it, especially since this one is the 'bad' one."
"Right?" Link tilts his head in confusion
"It's nearly packed tonight, there's even a line." Shane points at the loud man who is now stumbling around the entrance, "Just kidding, we kicked him out a few minutes ago."
"Starting fights?"
"That and he's wasted." Shane sighs, "You want to come in for a drink?"
"Sure." Link nods
"I thought he was just visiting." Velvet frowns
"Of course. You can never say no to one." Shane leads them in and points them to the main bar as the only three tables set up are all taken
"I do not want to watch that." Velvet points at the screen above the bartender showing the replays of the tournament, where they just cut to the beginning of Coco and Yatsuhashi vs Emerald and Mercury
"Well the corner seats can't see the screen at all. We can also mute it too if you'd like." The bartender offers
"Let's go for that." Link nods and sits down on the far right side
"Thank you." Velvet sits beside him, "What happened to it being quick?"
"I don't plan on drinking, I just said yes to be nice."
"He was very nice, why did you ask if his mood changed?" She asks
"Even when I helped him fight off those guys, he wasn't exactly chipper. He thanked me and always let me in but always made it seem like he owed me no matter how many times I told him he did not. I don't know, he was just always bitter." Link brushes off the bartender who was nearly about to approach them
"Maybe he was at his lowest and being attacked was the breaking point?"
"Perhaps." Link slightly agrees
"Helping another person I never knew about, how many other people in Vale did you help?" Velvet grins
"Besides you guys and Shane, I don't think anybody else in Vale." Link shrugs his shoulders
"I will always regret not talking to you sooner." She exhales in disappointment, "Since the moment we spoke, you were always so thoughtful."
"No need to mention it, especially since I didn't help the cause." Link chuckles, "Despite how supposedly one dimensional this thing between you and I made out by Coco, I got nervous around you as well."
"R-really, how come?"
"What do you mean how come?" Link turns his head to her in surprise, "You're sweet, caring, thoughtful, and very beautiful. All this confidence you see is centered around my combat but that's about it."
"Y-you're just being nice aren't you?" Velvet tries to look down so as to hide her blushing face.
"I try to keep my lies to a bear minimum." Link slides his hand under Velvet's chin and lifts her head back up, "That was not one of them."
"Those lies and secrets, will you tell me some day?" Velvet gulps as her body temperature rises along with her heart beat
"Maybe as long as you tell me yours too." Link smiles at her
"I... I had dream of us making out!" She blurts out with nervous laughter
"Do you regret it now?"
"Actually? No." Velvet's hand shakes as she puts it on Link's cheek, "My heart was at hyperspeed when I first said it but now it's slowing down. Telling Coco was way worse."
"Thank you for telling me." Link's smiles reaches its max as he shows no sign of backing off
"L-link." Velvet exhales, "I'm not sure why I'm so nervous. I like you and you're my friend but with other friends I'm never this worked up."
"Calm down." Link lets go of her chin and repeats her action, a hand to the right cheek in one swift motion
"I'm trying but it's not working." Her red face, shaking hand, and fast heart culminates with giggles of happiness, "Can I kiss you?"
"Velvet... of course." Link nods slowly
Velvet closes her eyes leans forward slowly, almost unsure of what she wants to do and whether she wants to do it.
"Need some help?" Link whispers
"Yes please." She begs
Link leans forward only a couple of inches as Velvet was already close and seals the deal with a soft kiss. Nothing too aggressive or passive either, as Velvet moves her hand off Link's cheek and slips both arms around his neck, deepening the kiss in the process. Link moves his other hand over to Velvet's left cheek, feeling her soft face as they continue to kiss until nearly breathless
"Wow." Velvet slowly backs up but remains inches away from Link, "Did that really happen?"
"I can pinch you if you'd like."
"You would never say that in a dream." Velvet happily breaks out a smile
"There you have it." Link smiles back
"Can we agree to not tell Coco about this?"
"Absolutely, she'll never let us hear the end of it." Link presses his forehead against Velvet's and gives her an assuring look
After more awkward long smiles and giggles, Velvet is the one to back away from Link
"Not a bad way to end is it?" Link smirks as he remembers Shane's words.
"It's not the way a usual date would go but where's the fun in that. And hey, I still have a question."
"Yes?" Link asks
"How did you find yourself in this situation anyway? Helping someone fight off crooks in your free time." Velvet shifts her body so she can directly looking at Link face to face
"It was not exactly in my free time. I skipped class and made my way to the city. There's no definitive answer as to why I was in this area specifically; wandering around got me here."
"Why did you skip class to come here?"
"The usual." Link's tone drops completely
"Did someone say the usual?" Shane's voice is heard once again, "Coming right up."
"N-no..." Link stops himself, "Anyway, yeah the usual you know, me and my regrets."
"Oh Link." Velvet reaches out to him and rubs his arm
"I know. All I do is sulk and pin my problems on those around me, I shouldn't do it to you too."
"Stop it, you don't do that at all. Remember that we insisted on knowing about your past. We broke into your room and everything." Velvet's words lose their volume as she shamefully finishes the sentence, "Sorry about that again."
"No it's fine, you were worried about me. Losing Ruby for that short time made me think about Ray and the rest of the villagers I couldn't save. How it was my fault the way they perished."
"Here you go kid." Shane sneakily puts three glasses of strong alcohol in front of Link, "Another reason I built my bar over here is I barely get any dumb cops poking around."
"Smart." Link compliments Shane with the most fake smile ever; it fades as soon as the owner walks away
"You are only one person and although you are very strong, have the biggest heart, and never say die... even you right now couldn't stop that entire onslaught from over a year ago." Velvet grabs Link's hands and squeezes them tightly.
"Deep down inside I know that. There's just this small thought at the back of my head that maybe I could have saved them all." Link breaks Velvet's grip and grabs the glass, his hand shakes from the frustration and sadness built up, "I told Ruby and Yang..."
"Talk to me Link." Velvet reaches for the drink and tries to pull it away
"I cannot shake these feelings of regret. It's not fair that they keep haunting me. I just... am lost. There's times where I feel like I'm wasting my time here in Vale." Link manages to fight off Velvet's grip and within two long swigs downs an entire glass, "Ray wanted to come to Vale, that's why I came here. I was living out her dreams but then when I met all of you-!" He makes quick work of the second drink and reaches for the third glass but the concerned faunus right next to him is two steps ahead.
"The dream was put on hold." Velvet in a swift motion snatches the drink from Link and proceeds to drink it herself... her face tightening up came soon after.
"V-velvet, what are you doing?" Link shakes his head
"You wanted to make me happy but now you're the one who needs some cheering up." Velvet waves Shane over, "How about two more?"
"Um..." Shane glances around before rolling his eyes, "Sure kid, I'll take your money."
"That doesn't explain-!"
"I'm here for you Link no matter what. That's something I want you to always remember." Velvet's face is still scrunched up as two new glasses are set in front of her and Link
"Guide her will ya?" Shane glares at Link
"I'll take care of her." Link nods
"You better, she's good company for you. I got you the strongest stuff but uh, consider it the last drinks I'm serving you tonight, yeah?" Shane shrugs and walks away
"You sure about this Velvet? Like the awkward flirting, you don't have to do something you're not comfortable with." Link lifts one glass
"You make me happy, I want to repay the favor by not letting you drink your sorrows away. Not alone at least." Velvet smiles as she picks up the other glass and clinks it against Link's.
"Cheers. To my upcoming tournament match and to our fortunes turning around for the better."
"Cheers." Velvet struggles to even drink a sip, "He was not kidding."
"Shane is a bit of a clumsy fool but he knows his alcohol." Link drinks with no problem, "Where do you see yourself after graduation Velvet?"
"Me? Oh... it's a bit too soon for you and I to even be thinking about post graduation life isn't it? There's always the answers we expect such as becoming a professor, becoming an official huntsman or huntress or-!"
"Feeling directionless?" Link looks down at the oak wood his arms rest on, "That's why I think I'm wasting time here in Vale, let's say I graduate right, what then? My goals remain the same: Avenge Garanda but more specifically Ray while continuing my search for my mother and brother. Hell I can add searching for Carter and my old mercenary crew. Not that I have any intention of becoming a mercenary ever again but just knowing they're alive is enough for me."
"When you find the person who did what they did to your friend, do you see yourself killing them?" Velvet glances at Link with a worried look
"I'll be honest, I am not sure. I can't say yes or no." Link drinks again and nearly finishes his serving
"Do you think we are holding you back?" Velvet turns all the way around to face him as she gives the drink in her hand a second sip
"No." Link shakes his head, "I'm sorry for saying I am wasting time in Vale. I'm learning from the professors and you guys give me something to fight for. I want to protect you, Ruby, Pyrrha, Blake, Weiss, etc... a-all of you! Not that you need it but I just have these feelings that something bad could happen to you guys. I want to be there to prevent it, you know?"
"Of course, I understand exactly what you mean." Velvet inhales and battles through the struggle without realizing that her vision is starting to blur, "I want to protect you too, not that you actually need it. You're really smart, strong, and determinant to never fall. It makes me envy you because I wish I was as strong as you.
"Don't put yourself down like-!"
"Link, you are in your own team." Velvet finishes the glass and puts it down right away, "It's not just the first year students that envy you, upperclassmen do as well."
"You shouldn't, I would not be a good role model. The people who know what really happened to Ruby see me as a hero for valiantly fighting for her but I'm no hero, I was the reason she was in that situation to begin with. I have to do more to earn that title." Link's eyes widen as Velvet beats him to finishing their drinks, "That's going to hit you hard."
"Hm?" Velvet giggles
"Oh no." Link sighs as his vision blurs a bit too; although not to extent of his date, "Let's go home, shall we?"
"O-okay." Velvet nods and stands up rapidly, trying to show that she's fine only to stumble
"That damn Atlas guy better not have taken off yet." Link drops two lien cards on the counter and interlinks his arm with Velvet's to guide her out of the bar
"See you in another six years." Shane smirks and waves
"We'll see." Link waves back before exiting the bar with Velvet clinging onto him
"W-why do you r-resort to drinking Link?" Velvet closes her eyes and shakes her head violently, "It doesn't feel great."
"You chugged the strongest alcohol in Vale." Link laughs, "If you had taken it slow with a glass of water right beside it, you would've been better off."
"He told you to guide me, you were not a very good guide." Velvet purposely leans all the way on Link to make him lose his balance
"Easy there. I'll do better next time." Link smirks
"N-next time, really?" Velvet jumps with excitement
"If you'll have me."
"Y-yes!" She cries out
"We can worry about a second date later, let's get you back to Beacon."
A wild walk back to the ship later. They approach the ship and immediately there's an angsty pilot angrily tapping his foot on the ground
"Six more minutes and I would've left without you."
"Count me lucky then." Link ushers Velvet into the ship where they sit in the exact same spot as when they first boarded the ship, "How are you feeling Velvet?"
"..." No response came from the faunus, she simply just laid her head on Link's shoulder and let out a peaceful yawn.
The entire trip back was silence but unlike the initial one, there was no tension, awkwardness, or near breakdown. Velvet enjoyed a quick nap on Link's shoulder and latter smiled as he watched his peaceful friend rest.
BOOM!
"Whoa!" Velvet jolts and looks around... then surprisingly laughs, "He did it again."
"You okay?"
"Yes." Velvet nods, "All the impact and surprise was taken out the first time."
"She just bailed you out." Link growls and stands up to walk off the ship as the cargo area opens
"You're in a hurry." Velvet holds onto Link's arm as they speed past the atlas soldiers
"Just to get by them." Link slows down
Another slow walk later as they get by the courtyard make their way towards the dorms. Soon enough they reach team CFVY's dorm but Velvet stops and plants her feet to the ground to the point where she roughly slides when Link momentarily drags her
"What's wrong?" Link turns and looks at her in the eyes
"I can't go back there... I'm drunk remember?" Velvet laughs
"You're not drunk." Link rolls his eyes, "First timers always assume even the smallest affect means they are drunk."
"Well then, I still smell like alcohol." Velvet pouts and crosses her arms, "I don't want Coco and Yatsuhashi to scold me or you."
"Hm, how about my room then?" Link asks
"L-link..." Velvet blushes, "Okay."
"Really? I didn't think you'd budge that quick-!"
"Come on!" Velvet's ears perk when the doorknob to her teams dorm turns, she grabs Link's hand and runs off with him trailing right behind
The footsteps fade as the door swings open and out comes Coco frantically looking side to side.
"Who's there!?" Coco narrows her eyes but quickly gives up, "These hallucinations still won't scram and where the hell are Link and Velvet?" She gives up and heads back into her dorm, "He better not hurt her."
Minutes later
"I think it was Coco." Velvet nervous looks around, "Even a few more seconds there and she would've caught us."
"Well she didn't, that is all that matters." Link unlocks his room and enters. He yawns, then proceeds to remove all his weapons and extra accessories off the bed
"I almost forgot how spacey your room way. They look a lot bigger now that it's made for only one person." Velvet shuts the door and suddenly her jitters return. She looks at Link with the moonlight spotlighting him through the window.
"Yes, I never really filled up the empty space since you were all last in here. I don't really plan to anytime soon either." Link finishes moving everything over to his desk and when he turns to face Velvet, the usually shy and timid faunus throws herself at him
"Mmm!" Velvet eagerly kisses Link with her arms around his neck as they bump into his closet door.
"Maybe you are a little drunk after all." Link blushes deeply, unsure of what do think or do.
"I-I, I'm thinking clearly Link." Velvet pushes back and walks backwards until she stumbles back and onto the bed, "Very clearly."
"You sure? This is something very out of character for you." Link follows his date and positions himself on top over her body, pinning both of her arms over her head and positioning his face inches away from hers.
"Um..." Velvet's cheeks burn with a deep crimson red color emitting at face value, "I w-want..."
"You want?" Link presses a soft kiss to her lips, then moves down to kiss her neck
"I want to kiss you and never stop." Velvet tries to move her hands but can't and giggles, "Are you sure this isn't a dream?"
"Oh so this was part of your dream too, you didn't mention that." Link chuckles and winks at her
"N-no, it was getting to the kiss but then Coco woke me up." Velvet's blush only intensifies as Link gets closer to her lips
"I want to make you feel good and safe, so I want to ask for your trust, want to make out all night?" Link stops and looks into Velvet's eyes
"Y-ye-!" Velvet stutters, her heart flutters, body tenses up, hands feeling completely helpless, and ears perked up all the way, "Yes."
"Alright then." Link seems to follow through but instead abruptly dissolves the tension by getting up
"H-huh?" Velvet's eyes follow Link as he walks to the door and locks it
"Let's not be that careless now."
"Oh." Velvet giggles as gives herself up as Link gets on top of her again
"..." Link says nothing as he and Velvet share another passionate kiss, they continue to kiss each other as the moon rises to its fullest and the night fades with a successful date.
The next day, Velvet is woken up early in the morning by a very violent alarm courtesy of Link
"Ow." Her rabbit ears slump as she holds her head in pain and nearly gasps in surprise when she sees Link, "L-link!"
Her mind races to the amount of kissing that transpired, the specific details in her head only amplify her headache but also turn her face into a cherry tomato
"Hungover?" Link's words cuts off her line of thought, "Thought so, do me a favor thought and hit snooze please." He mumbles and rubs his eyes to wake up
"Y-yeah sure." Velvet quick to turns to lazily throws her arm to slap Link's scroll, then groans as she shuts her eyes.
"Hey Velvet." Link cuts her off while at the same time turning over to face the ceiling, "I'm sorry about yesterday, I should have known when to stop and not cross the line."
"Sorry?" Velvet worriedly looks over at her friend, "There's nothing to be sorry about. I didn't do something I did not want to do."
"I should've never taken you to the bar, if there's no alcohol in your system then this..." Link sits up as his hand hovers over his bed, referring to her sleeping in his bed, "Does not happen. Even thought we did not do anything more I still feel bad that I essentially made you do something you were not comfortable with."
"Stop." Velvet sits up and wraps Link in a big hug, "I pressured myself to drink with you to make you feel like you were not alone but despite the stumbling and uncontrollable laughing, I knew what I was saying and doing. Besides, I have no regrets about anything that happened... do you?"
"Absolutely not." Link chuckles, "If you felt even more unsure about us after last night then everything would be a giant regret for me."
"It was nice." Velvet bumps her skull against his, "Now come on, we have to stay two steps ahead of my team."
"Right." Link nods and looks outside at the rising sun, "Guess that alarm finally paid off, we can do our thing and be out of here by the time everyone is barely getting ready."
Fifteen to thirty minutes pass as they both go their separate ways to respectively shower and what they have to do. Link returns to his dorm first and lets out a big sigh as he gets fully dressed
"Now that yesterday ended well I assume something bad is going to happen today." Link shrugs and starts putting his weapons back where they belong, sword strap, shield, bow, pouch of projectiles, etc. "Since it's doubles maybe I'll get someone easier. Please let it be CRDL, the last thing I need is another balanced out team like SLVR."
"But that would not be entertaining." Velvet speaks softly as she dries her hair, never announcing her entrance or even making any noise
"W-when did you?" Link looks at the shut door, "Wow, I think I've lost a step."
"No, I can promise you that was me being very silent." Velvet smiles
"Right..." Link stretches out his arms and shows off some practice swings with his sword
"You're so confident that you will be called on today, how?"
"I'm not sure, a gut feeling I suppose." Link slides his sword back in its sheath
"There's something I want to do before we head off to do our own thing, meet me at the entrance of Beacon in about... ten minutes?" Velvet asks
"Sure? Where are you going first?"
"My dorm." Velvet opens the door and quickly takes off
"Okay." Link shrugs, "The power of dangerous and unsafe for the environment chemicals pulls though."
The one man team sits around for another minute before standing up and leaving to go meet Velvet at her chosen destination.
Beacon Academy, Main Entrance
"Alright Velvet here I am, what did you-!"
SNAP!
"Whoa." Link blinks profusely
"Sorry!" Velvet lowers her camera and looks at the image she captures, a side view of Link with his weapons clearly in the frame more than Link himself
"Did you get a good picture? Not that I even have a good side." Link walks over to Velvet
"Oh come on, we know that's not true." Coco's voice is heard as she, Yatsuhashi, and Fox walk towards them
"No matter how many times you put me on this high pedestal, I'll continue to get off it." Link shrugs his shoulders
"You're being too hard on yourself." Coco softly punches Link's shoulder and nudges Velvet, "Soooo, how was it? You didn't even come back last night, did you hook up in some random hotel or something?"
"Of course." Link rolls his eyes and trails off from team CFVY
"Aw man, I didn't mean to piss him off." Coco frowns and takes a more serious tone, "Seriously, how was it?"
"It was a lot of fun." Velvet smiles and nods
"Good." Yatsuhashi pats her specifically on the head
"Ow!" Velvet cries out
"Oooooh, you two did get a little frisky huh? DID YOU DRINK?" Coco laughs
"S-stop." Velvet blushes
"No you stop and listen to me. I'm proud of you." Coco smirks
"R-really?"
"Yeah, I'm not sure if you took my advice or not but if you guys kissed it had to be a success." Coco's smirk turns into a genuine smile, "Come on, let's go get some coffee."
"Okay!" Velvet happily follows her team, only turning her head one time to see Link walking down the courtyard
Courtyard
"Now we play the waiting game." Link passes by a few students going in different directions, some back to the academy while others walk towards the ships
"How about a companion for that game?"
"Hm?" Link turns and sees Pyrrha heading towards him
"Hello." She waves and now walks besides him
"You headed to the colosseum?" Link looks towards the ships
"Not yet, Weiss insisted on repaying me for the meal during the first round of the tournament so we are going back to that stand once again." Pyrrha smiles and looks at Link carefully, "Would you like to join us? I'm not sure why you would not be invited."
"Sure why not. I didn't hear anything from Ruby or anyone else so I guess they forgot about me." Link rolls his eyes, "Are you running late?"
"Quite." She nods, "Ruby and her team is already there and I last heard from Jaune a few minutes ago that they are close."
"After you." Link extends his arm forward, pointing to the end of the courtyard
"You're too kind, come on." Pyrrha nudges Link forward as they start to walk together, "Where did you head off to yesterday. After team CFVY suffered that defeat you disappeared. Ruby let us know that you briefly stopped by their dorm but other than that..."
"I joined Velvet and Fox as we waited for them but everyone's spirits were crushed, especially Velvet's. So Coco..." Link sighs, "Asked me to take her out on a date. To clear her mind and show her a good time."
"That sounds wonderful, did you?"
"Yes." Link nods and smiles as he thinks about the entire date, "It started off slow, we did not really know what to say to each other. Velvet knew it was orchestrated by Coco but I was the one who pulled all the strings, so once I established that we took it from there. We went to a nice restaurant; although I blundered big time by ordering rabbit stew."
"No!" Pyrrha gasps, "How and why?"
"I fumbled." Link shrugs his shoulders, "She helped me climb out of the hole I dug and ordered for me."
Link stops dead in his tracks and sighs again
"What's wrong?" Pyrrha stops and stands in front of him
"I took her to a bar like a fool. She told me over and over again that she was okay with it but then the bad memories of my past started to come up..."
"Did you drink?" She reaches out to comfortingly squeeze his arm, "Ruby told Jaune and I what happened in their dorm with her uncle and you."
"Yes." Link shakes head, "But the redeeming part is that she was with me the entire time, talking me through it all, and even drinking with me. I could tell she was uncomfortable drinking but she still did it."
"People will do crazy things for those they like, Velvet did what outsiders would look at as crazy but me, I think what she did was special." Pyrrha smiles, "She did not want to let you walk down that agonizing and painful road of regret alone."
"Yeah, after that she got a little intoxicated so I brought her back to Beacon before we really got drunk. Slow start, fantastic takeoff, gliding through some stormy weather, but then a safe landing." Link smiles
"I am glad to hear that it went so well. It's about time the fortunes of an amazing person started to turn around."
"Amazing person? That's very kind of you to say but I'm no saint." He shakes his head
"You did what you had to do to survive." She glares him, "You've acknowledged your wrong doings too and now you're trying your hardest to do better. You've been a great friend to me, Jaune, Nora, Ren, and everyone you've come in contact with this past six months."
"I appreciate that but I just can't let it go." Link balls up his fists, "My father making me fall off a cliff made me forget a lot of things Pyrrha, I mentioned how I hit my head hard but I never specified the lasting impact. Have you ever wondered why I don't go by a last name?"
"Often but I thought it would be rude to ask you about it.." Pyrrha nods, only to gasp and realize what her friend means, "You lost your memory."
"All fourteen years before that incident are gone, hence why I refer to my mother and brother as just that, I don't know my last name anymore, and I don't remember anything else that happened before then. My upbringing, childhood, nothing, it's all gone. The only reason I told Professor Ozpin about what happened with my father was because of him pressing to find out my last name. Maybe Ozpin is the reason our other professors never ask about the last name either."
"That's..." Pyrrha wipes away a tear, "Awful to hear Link. However, it does not that change that you deserve better."
"Maybe being here will be the true test." Link fidgets with his gauntlets, "Thank you Pyrrha, these talks between you and I are always so enlightening. I'm not sure if I've told you before but I really value our friendship."
"No need." Pyrrha gives Link another reassuring squeeze to the shoulder, "I should be the one thanking you for your trust. We should get going before Jaune and Ruby begin a manhunt for me but this was nice. Who knows, maybe we will draw each other in the singles rounds. First we must get past this doubles round in the tournament and then hopefully the gods that rule above us will give the people the match they have been wanting to see since we made our presence known." She takes charge and now leads the way towards the ships
"This tournament is scripted if we don't see each other in the next round." Link follows her
Vytal Festival fairgrounds
"PYRRHA!" Ruby chants
"My apologies for being late everyone." Pyrrha waves and moves to the right as she reveals Link a fair distance behind, "I ran into someone and although he held me up for some time we had a nice talk. Oh, I also invited him."
"OH NO!" Ruby facepalms hard, "I knew I forgot to do something, good save Pyrrha."
"My pleasure." She says before sitting next to Jaune
"Make it a normal thing to exclude me." Link shrugs and plops down in a seat next to Ruby, "With my past, you'll be just fine without me."
"Grrr, shut up and stop being so down on yourself!" Ruby lifts her hands and slaps Link across the back, but her hand meets quite possibly the strongest steel in Remnant, "OWWWWWW!"
"Why would you aim there and not his head?" Weiss frowns
"I DON'T KNOW!" Ruby dramatically cries out
"If we were to ever fight my goal would be to keep my rapier far away from your shield, so never would I even think about hitting it hand first." Weiss pulls on Ruby's ear
"Thanks?" Link scratches his head as a big bowl of noodles is tossed in front of him, "T-thanks again? I didn't even or-!"
The shopkeep speeds off to the back area to presumably hide in his kitchen
"Does he ever speak?" Link shakes his head and sneakily drinks out of his canteen
"What's in there?" Jaune asks
"Why does it matter to you?" Link grunts and drinks again
"We spoke about this." Ruby repeats her earlier action but this time changes her target and slaps Link over the head
"Ow." Link rubs his head, "You can't expect me to quit can you? Besides, it's not even full."
"Soooo, how did your date with Velvet go?" Yang blurts out
"W-what!?" Link chokes and spits out what was already known to be alcohol by his friends, "I just told Pyrrha how has that spread already?"
"I have my anonymous sources." Yang cackles
"Coco is not exactly anonymous." Blake mumbles
"Shh!" Yang picks up a fish a stuff it into the cat faunus' mouth
"Why am I not surprised?" Link smirks, "At least telling Pyrrha felt special."
"Thank you." Pyrrha nods
Before anyone can harass Link about his date with Velvet, Professor Oobleck's voice is heard loud and clear throughout all the fairgrounds
"Link young man please report to the battlegrounds immediately!"
"I just started eating; they can wait." Link starts chowing through the large bowl of noodles as Pyrrha summarizes the date for everyone, summarizing the summary that Link told her earlier
"Rabbit stew, seriously?" Blake shakes her head
"I fumgbh-!" Link chokes as he swallows his food, "I get it, stupid decision now will you please let it die?"
"I'm surprised she wanted to go to the bar." Ren speaks with his usual low tone
"She really likes him, that's why." Nora chimes in
"Sneaking out at night, drinking, and still drinking right now." Weiss balls up her fists, "How are you so good when your lifestyle is poor!"
"I ask myself that question every-!" Link is cut off by Oobleck once again
"Would Jaune Arc and Pyrrha Nikos of Team JNPR please report to the battlegrounds immediately!"
"Oh, we're next." Pyrrha makes quick work of her bowl and sets it down without any issues
"I learned my lesson last time." Jaune pushes his bowl away with a good amount of noodles left
"Hold on." Weiss turns her head to the Colosseum, "What just happened?"
"Huh?" Blake looks at her
"I know we've been talking for a while but did we miss something else from Professor Oobleck?" Weiss notices the big announcement first
"What could it be?" Yang asks
"Don't you get it?" Weiss looks at Pyrrha and Jaune
"Get what?" Nora also asks
Link stops eating, seals his canteen, and stands up. His eyes lock onto and never leave Pyrrha.
"N-no!" Ruby gasps, "We misheard something right!? "
"Now this is quite interesting." Ren stares down Link
"We have to fight Link?" Jaune nervously whispers
"Yes." Pyrrha speaks loudly and stands as well
"I see." Link exhales nervously while backing away from the stand and his friends
"Link where are you going? We can travel together." Ruby suggests
"No t..." Before Link can finish they heard Oobleck for a third time
"Link please report to the battlegrounds immediately! You were already scheduled several minutes ago do not make us request for you one more time please!"
"As I was saying, no thanks." Link shakes his head and glances one more time at Pyrrha, "Good luck." He turns around and walks off on his own.
"Likewise." Pyrrha grins in a competitive but also very friendly way
"I have to process that he went on a date with Velvet and now has to fight Pyrrha and Jaune?" Ruby mumbles to her sister
"Don't tell me you're jealous again." Yang chuckles
"No!" Ruby shakes her head
"Good." Weiss quickly replies to her leader, "You should not let a boy distract you. Especially when you already pushed that boy away first."
"Grr..." Ruby frowns
Link is far enough to not be able to hear that conversation but what he does hear is Oobleck and Port hyping up the scheduled match along with conversations from other students around him still on the fairgrounds, some point out Link, other boo, and very few cheer him on. Taking in that he is a fighting a close friend in Pyrrha, his breathing increases with nerves starting to settle in; the top rookies of Beacon have been matched up with Jaune as the wildcard.
(Edited on 8/26/2022)
(Further edited on 10/3/2023)
